Who, Me? Pull a King David?

I have very recently started looking at the lives of some of the most honorable, Godly, “Saints” in the Bible and guess what? While they loved God and served Him with their whole heart and soul, they were still just humans like you and I and they still made bad (wrong, sinful) choices and decisions.

These people (Starting with the very first man, Adam, had very real, very personal relationships with God. Some of them God called his “Friend”, some He called “Faithfull”, “Righteous”, and even “After His own heart”.

Adam – the very first man on God’s beautiful earth chose to separate himself from a loving God and disobeyed by eating of the fruit from the one tree he was told not to. We are so often like Adam and Eve, we want the one thing that is off limits in our life.

Abraham- In Genesis 12 Abraham had the nerve to question God! He also lied and gave his wife away not once but TWICE to save his own hide! And yet God considered him a righteous man and was willing to give two cities a chance because Abraham asked him to!

Sampson – Judges 15- Sampson was set aside, promised himself to God. But he had a problem with women, he couldn’t leave them alone! And they were his downfall. But in the end with his eyesight gone and years of being used as a slave and laughing stock God still used him in a mighty way.

Eli – I & II Samuel – A Priest (Preacher) in the temple and yet he had no control of his own sons. They lived in sin in full site of the whole town and made a mockery of their Dad and the house of God. Yet God used him to train one of the greatest Prophets of all time, Samuel.

Jonah- Jonah 1- Was called to preach by God, but didn’t like where God wanted him to go, so he ran away. When God finally got his attention and he agreed to go, once he got there he got MAD AT GOD and threw a temper fit because God didn’t act the way Jonah thought he should! But God still used his begrudging sermon to save a WHOLE city!

David- Known as “A man after God’s own heart” – He was the King of Gods Nation and yet he still sinned. He Looked and Lusted after a married woman, Committed Adultery, Tried to cover it up by getting a man drunk, Then Committed Murder.

Peter- John 6- Had enough faith to walk on water! But when he took his eyes off of Jesus he began to sink!

                        Later when they took Jesus to be questioned before he was crucified, Jesus had told Peter that he would deny Him three times and Peter was horrified at the very thought of it! But he not only denied Him he cursed and denied him! And yet Jesus forgave him and when Peter was later crucified for being a Christian he asked to be hung upside down because he felt unworthy to hang upright like his Lord.

If you have a weakness or Prevailing (found most commonly or having the most power or effect in an area; or found, existing, or in force) sin. Run away from all cause for temptation! Don’t allow yourself to be put in or caught in places or situations which test your strength. If you have failed once… stay away!!!

The Bible says that “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” It does not say that once we become saved and start following Christ we are magically transformed into perfect beings who no longer do anything wrong. We are still sinners, we are just “Sinners saved by Grace!”

Audrey Grant

Too Young to Be Old?

July 12, 2011
I just found my first "age spot" or liver spot as some people call them, on my right cheek! A defining pause in my life. Isn't that rather "childish"? After all I am...(at which point I realized I didn't remember how old I am!) I know I am 42 or 43 but would have to do the math to figure it out, because honestly, right this min. I don't have a CLUE! Must be another SIGN of getting older.
I thought I was taking such a HUGE, Bold step to quit coloring my hair and let all my grey hair show! And I must admit I keep a "Panic" bottle in the bathroom just in case...
And I know I'm getting to where I need more oil changes, tune-ups and body work done. That's obvious with 13 surgeries in 16 yrs! And all but one in the last 10 yrs!
But for some reason this big brown freckle on my face at 42 (I did the math!) screamed at me today..."You are an Aged Woman!" Titus
Lord, please help me to use all the many, many trials and tribulations, Mountain tops and Valleys deep that  you have brought me through in my life to help someone else carry their burden, learn something new of Your wonderful Grace and Mercy or just be there when needed.
Please don't let me waste one grey hair, one age spot or one wrinkle that has taught me something that can help someone else! I desire for ALL of me to Glorify YOU!

You might be an Alaskan if:

You might be an Alaskan if:


by Janet Hillyer on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 at 1:19


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1. Your idea of a traffic jam is 10 cars waiting to pass a motor home on the highway.


2. "Vacation" means going to Anchorage for the weekend.


3. You measure distance in hours.


4. You know several people who have hit moose more than once.


5. You often switch from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day.


6. You use a down comforter in the summer.


7. Your grandparents drive at 65 mph through 13 feet of snow during a raging blizzard, without flinching.


8. You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events.


9. You install security lights on your house and garage, and leave both unlocked.


10. You think of the major food groups as: deer meat, beer, fish, and berries.


11. You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows how to use them.


12. There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at the grocery store at any given time.


13. You know what Bunny Boots are.


14. Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow.


15. You think sexy lingerie is tube socks and flannel pajamas.


16. You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and construction.


17. It takes you 3 hours to go to the store for one item, even when you're in a rush, because you have to stop and talk to everyone in town.


18. You didn't know what the word "county" meant, and we were never taught about "area codes"... 907 is all you had to know


19. You think bald eagles aren't that great


20. You know to go to Best Buy a month after a CD release because that’s when it will FINALLY arrive in Alaska


21. You wish seagulls came with a mute button


22. You can go to McDonalds and order off the $1.50 menu which they feel is equivalent to the $0.99 menu


23. You were appalled by the "Carrs-Safeway" merge a few years ago


24. You have to have a raven cage around your trash to keep them out


25. You go to school, work, or both in the dark and come out in the dark


26. 30 degrees is shorts weather


27. -10 is a bit nippy


28. Buses leaving school are delayed because a bear is in the parking lot


29. You tell people you live in an igloo for kicks


30. You don’t swim in natural bodies of water for fear of swimmers itch or beaver fever...or leeches


31. Having a moose in your front yard is a legitimate excuse for being late to school


32. There is nothing like Matanuska Maid...who cares about Meadowgold, Dairyland and Viva!!


33. You only go to the fair for turkey legs and a husky burger


34. You refer to the continental US as the "lower 48"


35. You get an attitude when you have to pay tax in the lower 48


36. There is 4 feet of snow the night before school and you STILL have to go.


37. If you don’t like the weather wait for 5 minutes and then go back out outside.


38. You sleep through an earthquake like nothing ever happened; the only way you know is because the clock fell off the wall


39. Salmon isn’t a delicacy, it's a staple


40. Halibut is beer battered rather than cooked some fancy way


41. 70 degrees is equivalent to 90 degrees in the lower 48


42. You know who "Sleeping Lady" is


43. During the winter you rarely use your freezer


44. You think $4 for a loaf of bread is cheap


45. A "cookout" is not all the time outside because it’s entirely too cold for all of that


46. You don't sleep in the summer because it’s too short to miss a minute of it


47. Half your friends own a sled (snow machine) and you think people that call them snow mobiles are idiots


48. You have been chased or know someone who has been chased by a moose at least once.


49. You’ve seen the northern lights, and you know why they are such a "big deal"


50. You know its all about the snow, DUH.


51. You know that Cattle Company has the best potato soup there is.


52. Your bedroom windows are covered in aluminum foil or black blankets.


53. You know the two speed limits in Alaska: the ‘get outta my way limit’ and ‘taking cover limit’


54. You only watch the news when they announce the amount of the year’s dividend


55. Your school classes were never canceled because of ice


56. You have to start your car at least an hour before you leave so most of the ice and snow will melt off by the time you leave


57. You wear flips flops all year without getting sick


58. You've never seen cotton or tobacco growing, but your neighbor has a 30 acre pot field


59. You literally can’t leave the house without seeing some one you know.


60. You know the term "studs" isn’t referring to hot guys.


61. You have to ski in gym class


62. You know who "Binki" was, made fun of that stupid Australian tourist, and was so sad when he died.


63. You expect to see a moose crossing Tudor every time you drive down.


64. You give up and tell people in the lower 48 that you DO live in an igloo and you DO have a pet polar bear named Mishka when they refuse to believe otherwise.


65. You call someone without a crack in there windshield a tourist


66. You remember what Showboats was and you’re little sad it's gone.


67. When you go to the lower 48 you wonder where everybody's block heater cable is


68. You've been to the Peanut Farm for a drink but refuse to tell anyone...ever


69. Combat fishing isn't a joke, it's a religion.


70. You've seen a 2-month old moose get hit by a full-size van at 65 MPH, then get up and run off


71. Two words "Korn Fritters"


72. Your parents taking you trick-or-treating involves riding door-to-door in the car


73. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit.

The above list was written by my niece who was born, raised and still lives in Alaska with her husband and two beautiful Children.                                                                                                                                    Audrey L. Grant Girl, you are right on! I would add...
74. You know to take a jacket to the beach in July.
75. Your kids drive sleds (see above) and 4 wheeler's before they can ride a bike.
76. Your honeymoon includes bug dope.
77. Baby shower's include fishing poles.
78. An acceptable engagement "ring" is a gun.

PRAYER REQUEST

I need a LOT of prayers please...this is not my health so no panic and please no questions, just (As Bro. Marvin Clanton asked me years ago) "Every time you think of me or my family would you say a prayer for us?" I just need guidance and wisdom from God in a really big way. Thank you.

Betrayal

How do you deal with betrayal of the worst kind? Does evil never stop attacking? Will we never be safe in this world? I know all the answers to these questions. I've LIVED these, more times than I care to remember and came through it all stronger, wiser, and closer to God.

But you never know when evil will strike again. Today I found out some of what my parents felt that awful day 27 years ago. Betrayal by someone you have trusted as "family" for years, is one of the most devastating and shocking things to wrap your heart and mind around.
Where to turn, what to do, what to say, what to ask....How could I not have known???? What is the next step after picking myself up off the floor where I've huddled in tears, pain and prayer with my Heavenly Father?

One step, one moment, one breath, one whispered prayer at a time. I have walked these dark paths before with my hand in my Savior's and He has lit my path. It was a hard path, a rough trail, miles of rocky uphill climbing, but He was ALWAYS there with me. Even when I stumbled, faltered, looked back and got scared or looked ahead and doubted because the way looked too steep. He was always there.

And I know He is with me through this deep valley and mountain I must travel. It feels I have been on a journey for two years with my health but today my health feels like the pack on Pilgrim's back in "Pilgrim's Progress" and this is the journey I have been in training for.


Nahum 1:3 The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in PERFECT peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Psalm 119: 105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help the; yea, I will uphold the with the right hand of my righteousness.

With time, women gain weight because we accumulate so much information & wisdom in our heads that when there is no more room, it distributes out to the rest of our bodies. So we aren't heavy , we are enormously cultured, educated & happy. Beginning today, when I look at my self in the mirror I will think, Good Grief look how smart I am, I must be a genius !! 
LOL


Stolen from a friend's Facebook Page